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Journeying through the Midbar

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  Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the house of Israel dwelled in their own land, they defiled it by their own way and by their doings. Their way was before me as the uncleanness of a removed woman. Wherefore, I poured my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land, and for their idols with which they had polluted it. And I scattered them among the heathen and they were dispersed through the countries. According to their way and according to their doings I judged them. And when they entered unto the heathen where they went, they profaned my holy name when they said to them, These are the people of the Lord and are gone forth out of his land. But I had pity for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen where they went. Therefore, say unto the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: I do not do this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the heathen
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A Circular Perspective - Coming Into The Heavenly Gift.

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  "...And know ye that ye shall be judges of this people according to the judgment which I shall give unto you , which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men had ye ought to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am ... " When the Lord tells us in the Answer to Prayer for a Covenant to "Pursue Judgment" , it is imperative that the lense of judgement we discern through be carefully circumscribed around The Truth so it is reckoned from the Lord’s perspective and not from our own limited linear viewpoint. We often use the following scripture as a stone which we throw at each other when the other person cannot find harmony in our teachings or advice. We undertone our words inferring the other person is unwilling, unbelieving or too lazy to labor as diligently as we think we ourselves, have. Sometimes I wonder if we mistakenly assume we are a great light of knowledge because we may comprehend a portion of a scripture or see a little mystery or think we know what is
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Just A Dream

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  This week I had a dream. In it I found myself at a location filled with a great multitude of people gathered together with their tents, caravans and temporary accommodations. Many faces I knew, or recognized and some I had not seen before. People of all ages including children and from different locations. All were gathered for some large event or occasion, from what it seemed to me. There was an air of festivity, with lots of food, so much food... and different stalls offering unlimited delicacies catering to all the human senses. From a distance, it looked like a small city in a remote location. How anyone found their friends again if they went for a walk was perplexing to me as there seemed to be no clear order and I wondered how I would find those I was more familiar with. People were laughing, music was playing and the sun was shining brightly, it seemed like the perfect day to have such an event like this even though I didn't know the precise reason for the great gathering.
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The Shepherd of Hermas and the Torii Gate

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The picture accompanying this post is of a Torii Gate. These gates  signal to worshipers a transition from the profane world into the sacred. By walking through the T orii , one has entered the world of the Kami, or Shinto gods. This reminds me of a verse from an old  Christian literary work of the late first half of the second century, The Shepherd of Hermas.  This book is thought of as a valuable instruction by many Christians, and considered canonical scripture by some of the early Church fathers such as Irenaeus. Here are a couple verses that I want to refer to... "For after you have made known to them these words which my Lord has commanded me to reveal to you, then shall they be forgiven all the sins which in former times they committed, and forgiveness will be granted to all the saints who have sinned even to the present day, if they repent with all their heart, and drive all doubts from their minds.  For the Lord has sworn by His glory, in regard to His elect, that if any
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The True Fast Required Of The Lord (Isaiah 20:7)

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  "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins.  Notice the two group distinctions. 'My People and House of Jacob"  What is it about Jacob that is a type for us today? How did Jacobs name become Israel? What does the progression look like? Is a fully active and functional covenant more than just standing and saying "Yes"? At the end of the Prayer for Covenant , why would the High Priest add this additional request... " The Lord would make Himself known and His Word known,  to those who hear what comes next ." What does it look like for the Lord to make Himself  known to someone, Why is His Word so important for becoming a greater follower of righteousness?. Is this 'knowing' akin to the Day of the Lord or entering into His rest where a new labor begins? Would this have something to do with ratification of covenant status to the individual, does it accompany a
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οὕτως (In This Way - In This Manner) Christs Doctrine

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  οὕτως is a greek word and is pronounced " houtó and houtós" Another way to to understand the meaning in our Mormon vernacular is " on this wise " or in other modern comprehension; …what proceeds or follows from this -  after that, or after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like(-wise), no more than this, on this fashion (-wise), so (in like manner, thus, (verily, verily) - I am telling you the truth, exactitude - in keeping with) This brings me to the point of this blog post.  In  3rd Nephi 5:8     We enter into the account of Nephi being commanded by the Lord to come forth, and in obedience he arises and comes to the Lord before his people who are watching this unfold; then Nephi bows himself and kisses the Lords feet. The Lord commands him to arise and much to Nephi's hesitancy, due to the holiness and what is coming out of the Lords heart, Nephi stands before Him and the Lord gives unto him power to baptize and then He calls others. "And
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